Spring Break
Georgia's Lawrence named SEC male freshman runner of the year
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
Georgia freshman sprinter Torrin Lawrence has
been named the Southeastern Conference Male Freshman Runner of the Year, according to an announcement by the league office on Thursday.
"With the season Torrin had, it would be surprising if he were not the freshman runner of the year. His first year is one of the most amazing freshman indoor seasons I have ever seen. I think he is undefeated in his two main events as well as being the NCAA and SEC leader in both events for at least part of the season," said head coach Wayne Norton. "His talent is immense as is the content of his character. I am looking forward to some wonderful things from him over the next three and a half years. And as I told his mother, I am glad he is at the University of Georgia. Our sprint coach, Jon Stuart, continues to recruit the correct people for our program."
Lawrence, a 6-1 native of Jacksonville, Fla., captured Georgia its first indoor 200-meter dash title in school history at the SEC Indoor Championships on March 1. The All-SEC performer clocked an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 20.81 to win the Bulldogs their first championship in the 200 during any season since Mel Lattany recorded an outdoor conference crown in 1981.
Lawrence, who was also the anchor leg on Georgia's 4x400 relay team that broke the school record (3:07.45) at the SEC meet, is No. 2 on the NCAA's 200 performance list and No. 1 on the world's list (oversized track) with a school-record time of 20.77. He is also No. 3 in the nation in the 400 (46.18) and is a member of Georgia's 4x400 team that has the country's sixth-fastest time.
In Georgia's record books, Lawrence is already No. 1 in the 200, No. 2 in the 400, tied for third in the 60 and No. 1 in the 4x400 relay. He has won at least one event at all six meets he has competed in this season, including wins in three different individual events as well as three victories in the relay.
He was named the SEC Male Runner of the Week on Feb. 17 and Jan. 20 and was the SEC Male Freshman of the Week on Jan. 27.
This is the first annual SEC award given to the Bulldogs since distance runner Ian Burrell was named the 2007 SEC Male Runner of the Year.
Also of note, senior Ross Ridgewell was named to the All-SEC Second Team after finishing second in the 800. Ridgewell, who made his season debut at the SEC meet after being slowed by a leg injury, crossed the finish line with a provisional qualifying 1:49.82 in the prelims before sprinting to a second-place finish in the finals.
The Bulldogs return to action at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, on March 13-14.
- Georgia Sports Communications
been named the Southeastern Conference Male Freshman Runner of the Year, according to an announcement by the league office on Thursday.
"With the season Torrin had, it would be surprising if he were not the freshman runner of the year. His first year is one of the most amazing freshman indoor seasons I have ever seen. I think he is undefeated in his two main events as well as being the NCAA and SEC leader in both events for at least part of the season," said head coach Wayne Norton. "His talent is immense as is the content of his character. I am looking forward to some wonderful things from him over the next three and a half years. And as I told his mother, I am glad he is at the University of Georgia. Our sprint coach, Jon Stuart, continues to recruit the correct people for our program."
Lawrence, a 6-1 native of Jacksonville, Fla., captured Georgia its first indoor 200-meter dash title in school history at the SEC Indoor Championships on March 1. The All-SEC performer clocked an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 20.81 to win the Bulldogs their first championship in the 200 during any season since Mel Lattany recorded an outdoor conference crown in 1981.
Lawrence, who was also the anchor leg on Georgia's 4x400 relay team that broke the school record (3:07.45) at the SEC meet, is No. 2 on the NCAA's 200 performance list and No. 1 on the world's list (oversized track) with a school-record time of 20.77. He is also No. 3 in the nation in the 400 (46.18) and is a member of Georgia's 4x400 team that has the country's sixth-fastest time.
In Georgia's record books, Lawrence is already No. 1 in the 200, No. 2 in the 400, tied for third in the 60 and No. 1 in the 4x400 relay. He has won at least one event at all six meets he has competed in this season, including wins in three different individual events as well as three victories in the relay.
He was named the SEC Male Runner of the Week on Feb. 17 and Jan. 20 and was the SEC Male Freshman of the Week on Jan. 27.
This is the first annual SEC award given to the Bulldogs since distance runner Ian Burrell was named the 2007 SEC Male Runner of the Year.
Also of note, senior Ross Ridgewell was named to the All-SEC Second Team after finishing second in the 800. Ridgewell, who made his season debut at the SEC meet after being slowed by a leg injury, crossed the finish line with a provisional qualifying 1:49.82 in the prelims before sprinting to a second-place finish in the finals.
The Bulldogs return to action at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, on March 13-14.
- Georgia Sports Communications
Be the first to comment on this story